The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-12-31
NEW YEARS DAY.
THE ORIGIN OF ITS OBSERVANCE AS A
HOLIDAY.


There is touch of the old Roman su-
perstition yet extant concerning auspi
cious beginnings. The world seems much
better worth living in when the last day
of the year has been spent satisfactorily.
The precise origin of the setting apart of
this day as special holiday is lost in the
mist of ages; but its observances date
from very high antiquity. The Chris
tians borrowed the customs and ceremo-
malls which distinguished it from the old
Romans-who were no inventors, but
obedient to the beliefs and customs OF
their fathers and fathers fathers-and
who dedicated New Years Day to a
double-f faced Latin deity called Janus.
The name Janus appears to be corrup-
ton of Diana, and the goddess Diana
identical with the daughter of King Zsus
who was the twin sister of Apollo, and
who in the Trojan war sided with the
Trojans and qnsrreled with Hers, the
wife of Jupiter, snatching the bow from
her back and beating her with it most
numerically. Homer represents Hera,
as the great national divinity, sort of
earth goddess of fine manners and good
breeding, although sometimes very cross
to poor Jupiter; and as she often sat on
one hand OF King Zeus at state banquets,
and, as we are taught, could compel the
sun to go to bed that the long day, which
was to be the last of the Trojan pros
perity, might close in the middle of the
afternoon, we may consider her quite ca
pable of protecting the New Years holi-
day, and further, of designing the mode
in which it should be perpetuated and
celebrated to the end of time. At all
events, whether the gods and heroes Of
mythology had any part in it's origin or
otherwise, circumstantial evidence points
in their direction. Romulus, who is said
to be the son of Mars, and no doubt on
terms of intimacy with his neurological
relation, introduced the worship of Janus
into Rome 1853 B. O. His successor, Nu-
ma, the second ante-historical king Of
Rome, paid Janus the compliment Of
naming the first month in the year JAN
uary.
In ancient Rome all undertakings that
were commenced on the first day of the
new year we're expected to terminate sue
cessfuliy. The Roman magistracy in
variably entered upon their duties on New
Years morning, and the whole nation
knelt in prayer with the early dawn. The
entire day was deemed sacred. The rulers
bsnqueted after the manner OF the gods,
and initiating the intellectual Greeks,
had music throughout the meal. Gentle.
men not unfrequently paused between
the courses to sing songs with Tyre &C.
compartments. The peasantry wore fes-
tai garments in the streets, and journeyed
great distances to bring presents to the
Emperor-a compulsory tribute. They
plums, cakes, and copper coins with the
double head of Janus upon them. No one
would lend anything, or suffer neighbor
to take fire out of his house, or anything
of iron on New Years day.
The early fathers of the church tried to
suppress these practices, which they de-
nounced as besthenish and savoring too
much of idolatry. Claudius L, who was
reformer as well as tolersble scholar
and author, modified the ancient fashion
by decree, chiefly because of his dislike
to the pagan performances attending pre-
sensations which were considered as
omens of prosperity for the coming year.
It was this monarch who converted the
southern portion Of the British Isle into
Roman province, and waged war with
Germany; thus, while he labored to sup
press New Years observances in his own
country, he was instrumental in spread
ing the custom all over Europe. 1t was
caught and perpetuated in England for a
succession OF centuries. Even under the
Tudors and Stuarts the English nobility,
according to ''ancient CUSTOM" sent the
king purse of gold "every New Years
tide" and presents were made among all
classes of people. During the reign of
Queen Elizabeth the lords of the realm,
both spiritual and temporal, the chief Of
ficers of State, and the servants of the
royal household down to the master cook,
sergeant Of the pantry and dustman con-
tributed to the wardrobe and jewelry of
her majesty every New Years day. In
the time of Charles H., the gifts to the
sovereign were mostly made in plate.
The Germans and Holland Dutch in
terpreted in broader sense the pretty no.
ton which had come down to them from
the old Romans. II good fortune attended
all business enterprises beginning with
the first day of the year, why might not
friendships be more secure il begun or
cemented on that same propitious occa-
sion? Thus was inaugurated the delight
full custom of New Years visits, a custom
which the Dutch brought to America
with them nearly three centuries ago, and
which has been, from that period until
the present hour, one OF the most impor-
tant social observances Of the year. The
winter holidays or Christmas season in
Dutch New York occupied some two or
three weeks, and. commonly, all public
business was suspended until the hilsri-
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